Taking Dawn – Time To Burn (2010)

Are you looking for some new rock that stands out from the mediocre metal and has a sound that slaps you awake? Well, look no further, Taking Dawn is the band you seek. Equipped with a talented lead singer in Chris Babbit, who also serves double duty as guitarist, and armed with talented musicians who know how to play their instruments well, Taking Dawn is poised to be the next great hard rock band.

Their debut album, Time To Burn, is a testament to that style of hard and heavy rock. Filled with crushing guitar solos, rhythmic drums, and a lead singer whose voice is powerful and smooth, Time To Burn is one hell of a debut album.

Time To Burn opens with the title track, a fast, hard-hitting rock tune that has a modern Winger vibe and finds lead vocalist Chris Babbit sounding a lot like Kip Winger. That’s not to say Taking Dawn is a Winger-esque band, but the opening track definitely has a Winger sound and feel to it. A solid opener on its own accord, Time To Burn sets the pace for the rest of the album and announces that Taking Dawn hit hard.

“Like A Revolution” keeps the rock going. Babbit and guitarist Mikey Cross show off their skills on this song, which contains some amazing guitar work. The solos are sharp and enjoyable and the heaviness of the song reminds us of why we are fans of hard rock and roll in the first place. “Like A Revolution” is a song that packs a powerful punch.

“So Loud” is a blistering party rocker if ever there was one. While simple in lyrics and melody, the catchy hook and chorus force you to tap your feet and sing along. It’s only a matter of moments before you know the words and are shouting them out loud with a smile on your face and an extra bounce in your step. So Loud reminds us of what fun rock sounds like.

The big ballad of the album (yeah, you knew they had to have one) is “Close Your Eyes”. As far as ballads go, this one is ok. Ballads are not the strength of Taking Dawn, and while every band likes to include one in the hopes it will push them over the top,”Close Your Eyes” is mediocre at best. The band should stick to their strengths, which is fist in your face, hard rock and roll.

The album closes with a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”, and while it’s a huge risk to cover a song so beloved, I give Taking Dawn a lot of credit. Their version of this classic rocker is solid. Opening with a nifty little guitar riff, the song segues right into the classic guitar notes of the original. And while Chris Babbit may not be Lindsey Buckingham and Mikey Cross is certainly not Stevie Nicks, the dark raspy vocals work exceptionally well for this cover tune.

Taking Dawn are a new band that you should definitely be listening to. Armed with heavy rock, talented guitars, and deep, dark vocals that have power and ability, this is a band worth telling your friends about. If you’re a fan of rock and roll and you’ve been waiting for something new and exciting to come around that you could get behind and support, then Taking Dawn is what you’ve been wanting. Time To Burn is available on Roadrunner Records and worth every penny you spend on it.